Close encounters

My first “close encounter” occurred in March 1970 as I stood in a field at sunset. Facing west, I scanned the horizon for a glimpse of the elusive planet Mercury. I spotted a light, but it was much too bright to be Mercury. It couldn’t be Venus, which was a morning planet at the time. Besides, this light was moving silently and steadily toward me. Suddenly, it made an abrupt 90° turn and disappeared. I was astounded. No earthly craft could have conducted such a maneuver!

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